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Jehlum Post News/Srinagar/July 29, 2015/The State Level Screening Committee on BADP (Border Area Development Programme) headed by Chief Secretary, Iqbal Khandey Wednesday reviewed the implementation of the Programme in the State. The Committee besides approving Annual Action Plan of 147.20 Crore for 2015-16 also reviewed the physical and financial progress under Annual Action Plan 2014-15 including submission of UCs of previous years. While Chief Secretary underscored the need to respect the timelines, he said any new project taken up under BADP should be completed within three years.

He said BADP is an important programme that addresses the needs of the people living in border areas and Deputy Commissioners must review its progress every two months.He said to develop infrastructure in border areas, DCs should also look into the issue of convergence of BADP funds with other Central/State Government schemes and complete the works in time. Chief Secretary received brief from DCs regarding the completed and ongoing works under BADP, which primarily focus on raising social infrastructure such as schools, computer rooms, library, separate toilets for girls students, health services, water supply, drainage, electricity, Anganwari, community and skill development centres etc in the border districts of the State including Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Budgam, Leh, Kargil, Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu, Samba and Kathua.Chief Secretary said that inspection, verification of schemes and 3rd party monitoring should continue under BADP and institutional mechanism in this regard needs special attention by the Deputy Commissioners. He said all DCs should ensure that JK Pulse introduced to monitor the BADP works in real time and remains functional round the year. Meanwhile, Chief Secretary also asked Planning Department to release funds for completing key works taken up in various border blocks under BADP that are in the final stage of completion, so that these are thrown open for the benefit of the general public within next few months. Earlier, Principal Secretary Planning and Development, Mr. B. R Sharma gave a presentation on the physical and financial progress achieved under BADP during the year 2014-15. He said that total expenditure of 75 Crore was registered in the State last fiscal with Kathua, Bandipora and Budgam being among the better performing border districts in terms of allocated fund utilization.

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President Pranab Mukherjee confers the Padma Vibhushan to Amitabh Bachchan, left, during a civil investiture ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, in New Delhi on 8-4-15. - AP Photo/ Manish Swarup

US President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama fold their hands in Namaste gesture before their departure from Air Force Station Palam in New Delhi on 27-1-15. - PTI Photo/ Manvender Vashist

British Prime Minister David Cameron with US actress Angelina Jolie, Special Envoy of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, on the doorstep of Cameron's official residence at 10 Downing Street following their meeting in central London on June 11-6 - 2014:-AP/PTI

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To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved.George MacDonald

Live Healthy!

The controversy around Nestle's Maggi noodles has caused panic throughout the nation and it doesn't look like it will die down any time soon.

After the initial test results by Uttar Pradesh Department of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) showed harmful levels of monosodium glutamate (MSG) and lead in Maggi, various states across India and even Bangladesh conducted tests on Maggi to find out whether the food product is safe or not.

The controversy around Maggi has led to tests being conducted across the country.

The entire controversy began when the UP FDA last month asked Nestle India to withdraw a batch of Maggi noodles "which were manufactured in February 2014" after it found high levels of added MSG, a taste enhancer, in the noodles and lead beyond permissible limits.